What is the Ebola Virus Disease and how it spreads?

It is a serious disease with a high fatality rate. The disease affects humans and some animals (Monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). There is no specific treatment approved or vaccine available.

Ebola Virus:

The recent outbreak of Ebola virus began in late 2013 and is affected African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The potential pathway for the introduction of the Ebola in EU and America was the arrival of affected people. However, the movement of people between Argentina and countries where it was recorded this disease was rare and there were no direct flights to these countries.

Also, before the international alert was issued by WHO, the World Health Organization strengthened surveillance measures at major entry points.

How is it transmitted?

The virus spreads through transmission from person to person by direct contact with mucous membranes (skin covering the nose, mouth, and genitals) or injury to the skin with blood or other body fluids (feces, urine, saliva, semen) of infected people with symptoms.

Infection can also occur if broken skin or mucous membranes of a healthy person comes into contact with dirty clothes, bedding or used needles contaminated fluids from a patient with Ebola.

Men who have recovered from the disease can still spread the Ebola virus through their semen up to seven weeks after recovery. For this reason, it is important to avoid sex or use condoms for at least 7 weeks after recovery.

In addition, the disease can be transmitted by contact with body fluids of infected animals (monkeys). With regard to domestic animals (dogs and cats), there is no evidence that they play an active role in the transmission of the disease to humans, even in areas of Africa where the Ebola virus is present.

What are the Symptoms?

Symptoms of the Ebola disease include fever, muscle pain, headache and sore throat and weakness. Then they may have vomiting, diarrhea, rash, kidney failure and liver and massive internal and external bleeding.

The incubation period (ranging from infection to the onset of symptoms) ranges from 2 to 21 days. Patients infected from the moment they begin to manifest symptoms, not during the incubation period.

How can it be prevented?

There is no vaccine or medicine to prevent infection by the Ebola virus or disease. The only way to prevent it if you have to travel to the affected region is taking the following precautions:

Avoid contact with body fluids (blood, sweat, saliva, etc.) of infected people or animals.
Do not handle sharp objects (like needles) and personal items that may be contaminated with them.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water. follow more health-related blog such as what are the symptoms of HIV AIDS?